Soulharvest

Soulharvest is an annual two-day festival originating in the Empire of Druna, which is held from the final Old Moon of the year (typically Day 30 of Morteia) and completed on the first New Moon of the next year (typically Day 1 of Arhesia).

History

The festival has origins in the frequent, small gatherings of local necromancers across the Empire of Druna. Just as any other students of a magical school, the participating necromancers would compare notes and discuss strategies when it came to raising the dead. Early on, they spoke in hushed voices, but they were always easily identified by the undead summons that accompanied them to these hours-long discussions. 
The largest of these gatherings quickly became centered in Death's Lull in Druna. These would be held on the Old Moon of a given month, which was thought to provide the highest level of creative energies for necromantic discoveries. 
As the popularity (and power) of necromancy spread empire-wide, so did these gatherings. Soon, the Old Moon welcomed an entire village's worth of budding and professional necromancers at the increasingly worn inn of Death's Lull. Then, non-necromancer magical practitioners wanted to take a look at the goings-on, to see things from a different perspective and hopefully have breakthroughs with their spells (though they were a little too proud to say this outright). As the crowds grew and the breakthroughs became more complicated and less frequent, these gatherings devolved into debauchery.
In year 105 ER, the local governor suggested that the event be altered to a less frequent occurrence, in exchange for being granted a tax-free location in the City Hall. The body of necromancers agreed to this, and they dubbed the now-annual event Soulharvest.

Execution

There are enough itinerary items to fill two full days (and, sometimes, a trailing third) of Soulharvest. 
DAY ONE - Morteia 30

• The opening ceremony begins on the rise of the final Old Moon of Morteia, in which the year's appointed High Necromancer welcomes all guests and gives an inspiring speech. 
• Festivities follow with a midnight zombie crawl, shrunken head toss, limb racing, and other competitive games. 
• Attendants will retire at sunrise and return at dusk for academic presentations.

DAY TWO - Arhesia 1

• Awards for necromantic achievement and magical mastery are announced and awarded by the Necromancy Chapter of the Drunan Magical Society
• Following the awards, a new High Necromancer will be appointed, an esteemed position that will grant the appointee special status for the entirety of the new year
• Once night has risen in its full glory, the closing ceremony is performed: A torrent of souls is released into the atmosphere, a display that is both visually striking and magically significant. Participants are encouraged to harvest as many souls as they can, which are theirs to keep and use for their necromantic crafts. This is a way of wishing all participants good luck in the coming year with their work
• Although the festival has technically closed after the last soul has been captured, festivities tend to continue with food, drink, and merriment until the last necromancer has retired for the evening

Participants

The festival is organized by the Necromancy Chapter of the Drunan Magical Society, spearheaded by the year's appointed High Necromancer. There are several donors from wealthy, generations-long necromancy families that tend to provide major financial backing for this annual event. Attendees are mostly necromancers, but many magic practitioners and non-magical people attend to simply enjoy in the good fun that the festivities bring.

The Drunan Calendar

Primary Related Location

Death's Lull